The Compact Pyramidal Arborvitae for Smaller Twin Cities Yards

Technito Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Bailjohn', sold under the First Editions brand) is a compact, dense pyramidal arborvitae developed by Bailey Nurseries right here in Minnesota. At 6–8 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide, it's a more manageable cousin to standard 'Techny' — ideal for Twin Cities yards where a 12-foot hedge would be overwhelming. Reliable to -40°F, deep rich green color year-round. Perfect for foundation plantings, low privacy screens, and accent rows in Minneapolis bungalow yards or compact Edina lots.

First Editions Technito Arborvitae Plant Details

First Editions Technito Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Foundation Plantings and Side-Yard Screens

At 6–8 feet mature, Technito is right-sized for foundation plantings under second-story windows or for screening utility boxes, AC units, and side-yard views. Space 3 feet apart for a tight low hedge or 4–5 feet for individual specimens. Pairs well with Boxwood 'Green Velvet' and Hetz Midget Arborvitae for layered evergreen beds.

Low Privacy Hedge for Smaller Lots

Where standard 'Techny' would form a 12-foot wall, Technito creates a 6–8 foot privacy ribbon — high enough to block sightlines from neighboring driveways and patios but low enough to preserve sightlines and sun in the yard itself. A 30-foot run takes about 10 plants on 3-foot spacing.

Best Time to Plant First Editions Technito Arborvitae in Minnesota

Fall — late August through mid-September — is the ideal planting window for evergreens like First Editions Technito Arborvitae. Soil is still warm enough for root development, cool air reduces transplant shock, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before the typical mid-November ground freeze in the Twin Cities. The earlier window matters specifically for evergreens because they continue losing moisture through their needles all winter, so root establishment before freeze is critical.

Spring (late April through May, after ground thaw) is the second-best window — you get a full growing season ahead. Avoid summer planting (June–August) when possible; if you must, water heavily and mulch deeply. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground or frost-heaving will kill new roots.

How to Plant First Editions Technito Arborvitae

1. Dig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, same depth. In heavy clay, dig even wider (3–4x).
2. Check for clay hardpan — if water pools in the hole, break through the clay layer or mound-plant 2–3 inches above grade to improve drainage.
3. Backfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't fill the hole with pure compost — it creates a "container" effect that traps water around the roots.
4. Spacing — 3 feet apart for a closed low hedge; 4–5 feet for individual specimens; 30-foot run = ~10 plants.
5. Build a 3–4 inch water basin around the plant to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove the basin in late October to prevent ice damage over winter.
6. Mulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Do NOT use gravel mulch — it doesn't insulate roots in Minnesota winters.

Watering First Editions Technito Arborvitae in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)
• Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days
• Month 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages roughly 3 inches/month June–August)
• Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in Twin Cities metro). Continued late-fall watering can push tender new growth that gets killed by winter.
• One deep watering in early December is a good idea for evergreens if fall has been dry — it helps the plant resist winter desiccation.

After Year One

• Established First Editions Technito Arborvitae rarely needs supplemental water. Water deeply during droughts (2+ weeks of no rain combined with temps above 80°F).
• Soak to 6–8 inches depth, every 7–14 days during dry spells. Let natural rainfall do the rest.

Drip Irrigation in Minnesota

Drip works well for First Editions Technito Arborvitae if your beds already have a system. Place emitters 12–18 inches from the trunk. Always blow out lines and shut off the timer by early October — frozen drip lines split.

Will Technito survive a Minnesota winter?

Yes — it was bred in Minnesota by Bailey Nurseries specifically for the climate. Rated to USDA zone 3 (-40°F). No protection needed for established plants.

How is Technito different from regular 'Techny' Arborvitae?

'Techny' is a 12–15 ft tall hedge form; Technito ('Bailjohn') is a compact 6–8 ft cultivar developed from similar Bailey Nurseries breeding stock. Same dark green color and zone 3 hardiness in a much smaller footprint.

Will deer eat it?

Yes, like all arborvitae, Technito is browsed in winter when food is scarce. Protect first-year plants with snow fence or netting, especially in Minnetonka, Wayzata, Eden Prairie, and Chanhassen. Established plants over 5 ft are usually browsed only on the lower limbs.

How fast does it grow?

Slow to moderate — 6–12 inches per year in Minnesota. A 7-gallon plant (~3–4 ft tall at purchase) reaches mature 6–8 ft in 5–7 years.

Is Technito the same as 'Bailjohn'?

Yes — 'Bailjohn' is the patented cultivar name; Technito is the trademark Bailey uses to market it under the First Editions brand. Same plant.

You May Also Like

• 'Techny' Arborvitae — Taller (12–15 ft) cousin from the same Bailey Nurseries lineage for two-tier privacy.
• Boxwood 'Green Velvet' — Low globe form (3–4 ft) that anchors the base of Technito plantings.
• Hetz Midget Arborvitae — Dwarf 3–4 ft companion in matching evergreen color.
• Limelight Hydrangea — Deciduous accent that pairs lime-green summer blooms against Technito's dark green backdrop.

How Many First Editions Technito Arborvitae Do I Need?

For a closed low privacy hedge, space Technito 3 feet on center — its 3–4 foot mature width knits the row together:

For individual foundation specimens, allow 4–5 feet between plants so each keeps its own pyramidal shape.

First Editions Technito Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Fresh deep-green growth flushes from every branch tip as the soil warms in late April and May, adding 6–12 inches over the season.
• Summer: A dense, tidy pyramid of scaled evergreen foliage that holds its shape with no shearing — a crisp backdrop for blooming shrubs and perennials.
• Fall: Keeps its rich green color while deciduous neighbors go bare, becoming the structural anchor of the bed.
• Winter: Stays deep green with no bronzing, blocking sightlines and catching snow on its dense branches — privacy and color when the yard needs it most.

At a Glance

✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Techny Arborvitae — the full-size 12–15 ft cousin from the same Bailey lineage for a two-tier privacy planting behind Technito.
• Hetz Midget Arborvitae — dwarf 3–4 ft globe in matching deep green to anchor the front of the bed.
• Limelight Hydrangea — lime-green summer blooms that pop against Technito's dark evergreen backdrop.
• Emerald Green Arborvitae — a narrower, taller column where you need a vertical accent in the same planting.

Is First Editions Technito Arborvitae Right for Your Yard?

Choose Technito if you want a no-shear evergreen screen in the 6–8 foot range: full sun (6+ hours), any reasonably drained soil including Twin Cities clay-loam, and a footprint just 3–4 feet wide. It's not a fit if deer pressure is heavy and you can't protect young plants for the first winter or two — like all arborvitae it's a favorite winter browse — or if you need fast results, since it climbs only 6–12 inches a year.